News & Info > Milton Abbey announces new Head Milton Abbey announces new Head The Chair of Governors, Mr Ian Bromilow, with the unanimous support of Council, is pleased to announce that Judith Fremont-Barnes, who is currently Head of Duke of Kent School in Surrey, will be the next Head of Milton Abbey. Mrs Fremont-Barnes will take up post on 30th August 2018 to coincide with the current Head, Mr Magnus Bashaarat, taking up the post of Head at Bedales. Mrs Fremont-Barnes was educated at Kingston Grammar School and Christ Church, Oxford where she read English Language and Literature. Her first teaching appointment was at James Allen’s Girls’ School and then in 1993 she moved to Japan (her husband took up an academic post) returning to the UK in 1998. While in Japan, she lectured at Kobe Kaisei College for Women and Kobe University, as well as bringing up a family. Mrs Fremont-Barnes returned to the UK in 1999 and joined King Edward VI School and then Radley College where she became Head of English, was involved in boarding and a member of the school’s academic planning group. In 2008, she was appointed Deputy Head at More House School, a small all-boys’ boarding school catering for special educational needs, with responsibility for the academic offering and then in 2011, moved to her current position at Duke of Kent School tasked with increasing pupil numbers and leading strategic change. Magnus Bashaarat writes “I am really pleased that Milton Abbey has been able to appoint such an impressive and well qualified Head as Mrs Fremont-Barnes who understands small schools and how they run. She has a clear understanding of and empathy for Milton Abbey’s ethos and will continue to develop Milton Abbey’s unique and broad academic offer.” Ian Bromilow fully endorses these words and adds “Mrs Fremont-Barnes will be the first female Head of Milton Abbey which is fitting as the school has been fully co-educational for six years and we are now moving in to our second decade of having girls at Milton Abbey." Mrs Fremont-Barnes is attracted to Milton Abbey through its vision, ambition and unique offering: she fully endorses inclusive education and the setting of standards that encourage every pupil to achieve their potential. She adds: "It is a great honour to be appointed to succeed Mr Basharaat as Milton Abbey's Head. The warmth and individuality of the place are clear from the moment you walk through the door. We were also struck by the spark and ambition of the students; their pride in Milton Abbey School is very evident. The School provides exceptional choice for its students, truly tailoring education to each one and enabling success. I am excited by the prospect of working with the dynamic team of staff and Governors to build on its already strong reputation for nurturing the whole person and developing an enterprising spirit. Milton Abbey School is ideally placed to be a sector-leader both in terms of educational innovation and of promoting wellbeing. My husband and I are very much looking forward to our move to Dorset and to getting to know you all in the months ahead." Mrs Fremont-Barnes, who has a Master’s degree in Education, maintains a lively interest in a wide range of educational issues, in particular the role of technology in education and the promotion of pupil welfare. She will shortly complete training with Mental Health First Aid England to become a MHFA instructor and is also serving as the Continuing Professional Development officer for her local association of prep schools. Mrs Fremont-Barnes is an active supporter of the visual and performing arts, being a patron of the National Theatre and Cheltenham Festivals and a member of various literary and artistic societies, including the Royal Society of Literature, the National Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum. She is a member of her local Church of England and is now looking forward to Chapel life at Milton Abbey. Her chief respite from the pressures of headship comes from the company of friends, long walks with her border terrier and time spent with her family: her husband Gregory of 24 years, a military historian, and their two grown up sons.